I really liked this movie. It went against my expectations right out of the gate. I don’t know if I would like the original Fletch film with ChevyChase as much as I did as a younger viewer, but I remember enough to say that it was all Fletch. Not so much here. Chevy’s Fletch dominated the story, perhaps every scene. I still remember his sarcastic Oh good, the police, when a corrupt cop showed up.
This Fletch movie is more mature, with more depth. Wisecracking Fletch is still at the center of it, of course, but mostly I enjoyed the scene-stealing cops. There is the exhausted new father, “Slow Motion” Maurice, who talked like a tough cop who disbelieved Fletch and reminded him more than once that he was the main suspect, but who had the patience to wait before arresting him. Perhaps really knew someone was setting him up. And the accident-probe, clumsy Griz, who bumbled around but who ultimately proved to be the brains of the detective team. They played off each other and Fletch well, and I would gladly watch a spin-off show just with them.
The plot is dense in a way, and a piece of critical information is hidden from us for most of the film, but it is all in fun so who really cares? What am I, reviewing for the New York Times or the like? No. Suffice to say that it was entertaining and I suspect I will watch it again someday.